Wokingham Choral Academy

The Wokingham Choral Academy is a non-auditioned training choir for those who wish to start singing from scratch or refine existing singing skills. Its basic aims are:

to teach through a variety of different music styles, the techniques of voice production, and
to cover basic music theory to allow an understanding and reading of a choral music score, and
above all to promote the joy of singing.

The Academy has just completed its first year. The Choir's Director of Music, Jo McNally, accompanied on the piano by Andrew McKenna, leads rehearsals, which are held on Thursday evenings at Emmbrook Junior School.

In its second term the Academy gave an informal "Sharing" performance for family and friends and also subsequently took part in a day long joint Workshop with members of the Wokingham Choral Society. The programme included sessions on vocal technique, sight-reading and theory and close harmony, culminating in a joint "Big Chorus" session.

The culmination of a successful first year for the Academy was its debut public performance alongside the Society in their production of "A Night at the Opera" held on June 18th at All Saints Church, Wokingham. The Academy's contribution consisted of extracts from "Sondheim! A choral celebration" and "Rodgers and Hammerstein, on Broadway".

The following extract from the Press Report published in the Wokingham Times shows how well the performance was received:

"The Academy's contribution was a bright exciting performance of a medley of old favourites from Rodgers and Hammerstein and Sondhein musicals. Their singing was neat and precise, reflecting the changes of mood and rhythm in each song. They deserved the hearty applause they received. They later joined with the Society in a splendid performance of Verdi's Chorus Of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco."

The Academy expects to build on its successful first year. Rehearsals are scheduled to resume in September, working towards a performance alongside the Society at its Christmas Concert in December. There are also plans for the Academy to again perform with the Society at their June 2012 Concert.

Wokingham Choral Academy - in Performance

Academy members singing in concert at All Saints' Church, Wokingham, in June 2011.

Background

In October 2009, Wokingham Choral Society heard that its application to host one of the seven free 'Learn to Sing' courses across the country had been successful. The six week course, designed to encourage more people to take up singing, was funded by the Arts Council England, and run by Making Music in partnership with BBC Choir of the Year 2010 and the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS).

The Society was overwhelmed when it received more than 300 applications. The 200 available places were filled and a waiting list of more than 50 was established more than two weeks before the course started in March 2010.

It was obvious to the Society after the first week that it must keep the momentum and enthusiasm generated by the course going forward. A second course "Sing into Summer" was therefore organised to give those who were unable to secure a place on the original Learn to Sing course the chance to have an introduction to singing, as well as to give some of the original Learn to Singers a chance to 'Sing into Summer'. Against this background, it was agreed that the long-term aim should be to establish the Wokingham Choral Academy.

The Wokingham Choral Academy was thus formed in September 2010, helped also by funding from the Arts Council in its first year. The Academy, whilst collaborating with the Wokingham Choral Society, has its own Musical Director and a Management Committee and programme.

Would you like to join us

The Academy has a few vacancies and if you would like more details about venue, times and cost please Click Join WCA .

If having read the details you would like to join then please email the Academy membership secretary Maggie Pye.

In the Members Area

UPDATED 21 May 2012

Rehearsal Parts for Concert, Summer 2012

Minutes from Committee Meeting on 25 Apr, 2012

Dates for 2012-13 Season